The latest issue on Secularism and Nonreligion is out. Taner Edis (Truman State): Atheism and the Rise of Science. Joseph Langston (Colorado): Explaining Atheism: Testing Hunter’s Durkheimian Theory. Domenico Melidoro (LUISS): Principles of Secularism: Is the Clash among Principles Necessary? Brian Leiter (Chicago): Reply to Five Critics of Why Tolerate Religion? Understanding atheism as a moral system: Lincoln Mullen reviews The Age of Atheists: How We Have Sought to Live Since the Death of God by Peter Watson. Is atheism a specifically Western phenomenon? We know atheism in its Jewish or Christian context, as a rejection of the Biblical God — what would atheism mean in a Muslim, or Hindu, or Buddhist context? (and a response) Sam Harris on an atheist’s guide to spirituality: “I did not have to believe anything irrational about the universe” (and a review of Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion). The continuing debate over a murky sexual encounter at a 2008 convention for cheekily anti-establishment skeptics underscores a broader dilemma: How can a progressive, important intellectual community behave so poorly towards its female peers? Allegra Ringo on why the atheist movement needs to disown Richard Dawkins. Jerry A. Coyne on why Richard Dawkins doesn't deserve John Gray's smears. Nick Cohen on the phantom menace of militant atheism: Non-believers never harmed anyone in the west — which is more than you can say for cowardly “intellectuals”. Crispin Sartwell on irrational atheism: Not believing in God isn't always based on reasoned arguments — and that's okay. Joseph Trabbic on God’s responsibility for atheism. Greta Christina on a major threat to religion: Clergy people coming out as atheists. When people go to school more, they go to church less: They're less likely to believe in lucky charms and rabbit's feet, too. What should happen to churches as religion recedes? As church-going diminishes, church buildings are repurposed, many retaining vital functions.
